Passion Meets Performance

5 Tips for Better Car Maintenance

 

You've done months of searching. You've compared prices, found the perfect color and selected the trim level that offers everything you're looking for. When you do all of the work required to invest in the perfect car, you want it to last as long as possible. The best way to do that is to take care of your car holistically, but without the right products and treatment, you’ll run into issues long before the car’s life span is up. Spoiler alert: even the type of fuel you put in your car can play a factor in its longevity. The tips and tricks below will help you take better care of your investment, and will allow you to spend many, many miles exploring the open road together.

 

#1 High-Quality Fuel

What's in your tank matters, so make sure you choose high-quality fuel at the pump next time you're running on E. While lower-quality fuels save you money, they can lead to deposit build-up on your fuel injectors and on intake valves. In many cases, this causes serious problems that can shorten the lifespan of your ride. For a top-tier fuel, check out Sunoco's Ultratech™. Ultratech contains the same detergent level as the fuel Sunoco makes for the professionals racing in NASCAR. Ultratech will help your car run cleaner, longer and more efficiently. Sunoco's Ultratech is TOP TIER certified, which means that it meets the strict standards of the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline Program and is recommended by manufacturers like Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.

 



 

#2 Wax Your Car

If you can't remember the last time your car was waxed, then it's safe to say it's been too long. Waxing helps maintain your paint and acts as a seal against all kinds of weather and sun damage. A lack of waxing can lead to fading, discoloration and eventually rust — which not only affects the exterior of the car but can lead to bigger structural integrity issues if ignored for long enough. (Let's not let it get to that point, OK?) Wax will also help your car's paint job to shine and give it that "just detailed" look.

 

#3 Condition the Seats

If your car has leather seats, you should look after them much like you would a pair of leather boots. Seats take some of the most intense day-to-day abuse when driving your car. Sliding in and out of the seat, catching the rivet on your jeans, baking when parked in the sun — all can do a number on your car's upholstery, and therefore its longevity and resale value. Keep your seats clean using dedicated leather cleaning products and condition them with a leather conditioner to keep them looking good and stop them from drying out and cracking.

 

#4 Change the Oil

This is table stakes, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t change their oil in accordance with their car manufacturer's recommended interval schedule. While it depends on the make and model of your car, the average recommendation is changing your oil every 3,000 miles or every three months (whichever comes first). While advances in engine technology and motor oils have made that advice slightly outdated, the best way to keep tabs on your engine and its oil condition is with frequent oil level checks.

 

 

#5 Keep Things Organized

Organization can be one of the simplest ways to keep your car looking its best. Instead of tossing things in the backseat or the trunk, only to spill over or roll around all over the place, keep it tidy with a few storage bins. We're fans of these straight-wall solid storage containers and lids, or these similar bins with organizational dividers from Sidio. They are a great place to keep your jumper cables or car jumpstarter neatly tucked away so that you always know where to find them. You can keep them together with things like flares, reflectors, flashlights and a multitool so you're prepared in the unfortunate case of an emergency.